see 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May 12,- i()oo. 
proclivities of our Eskimo, that exterminates these ani- 
mals, but the demand of the white man, who offers in 
trade for the meat thus obtained tea, tobacco, molasses 
and calico. 
It would be with considerable hesitation that I should 
criticise white men wintering in such high latitudes, 
and subject to frequent and at times serious ills from the 
constant use of tinned foods, for purchasing this meat 
in such quantities as they do, even though I know it 
means the speedy extinction of the caribou. 
Inland from Darnley Bay, and on Bathurst Isthmus, 
the old stone mounds are yet in place where the Eskimos 
formerly drove and impounded the caribou, slaughter- 
ing them with bow and arrow; and to the east of the 
Mackenzie Delta, in the Rat River country, and again 
to the west of the Rocky Mountain range, in the Bell 
River country, may be found the decaying brush fences 
between which the Loucheux tribes of Indians at one 
time, not very long ago, drove the cariboix into the raw- 
hide snares set for them, thus securing them in large 
numbers. I had an opportunity of observing the remains 
of these pounds. 
Ursus richardsoni, Reid. Barren Ground Bear. — ^The 
Barren Ground bear is found in the hilly regions east 
and north of Great Bear Lake, in the low part of the 
Rocky Mountain range west of the Mackenzie, and 
in all probability to the Colville, and perhaps in the 
country forming the headwaters of the Peel River, and 
the upper tributaries of the Yukon, among the bald 
ridges above timber line. It shades in color from a dirty 
ecru to brown, and in spring, when quite faded, at a 
distance may be mistaken for a white bear. 
Ursus middendorfU, Merriam. Kadiak Bear. — The 
Kadiak bear inhabits the Kadiak group of islands, the 
Alaskan Peninsula, the Kenai Peninsula, the region back 
of Prince William Sound, the Sushitna and Kuik Rivef 
regions, and the Alaskan Mountains, but I did not hear 
of their crossing this range into the interior. 
Ursus dalli, Merriam. Yakutat Bear. — This bear ap- 
pears to occupy the greater part of the coast country be- 
tween the Copper River and Lynn Channel, but evidently 
does not extend its range east of Lynn Channel, nor 
south of Chicagof Island. 
Ursus sitkensis, Merriam. Sitka Bear. — This large 
brown bear ranges well south through the Alexander 
Archipelago and into the coast range of the mainland 
to the east of these islands. The Iskoot, the largest trib- 
utary of the Stickine River, is quite noted for its numbers 
of these huge beasts; and the Indians are afraid to shoot 
them when hunting alone. 
Ursus emmonsi, Dall. Glacier Bear. — ^I did not hear of 
the glacier bear except in the St. Elias range of moun- 
tains, the headwaters of the Alsek, White, Tananna, Cop- 
per and Sushitna rivers. 
Ursus horribilis, Ord. Grizzly Bear. — ^The grizzly ap- 
pears to range throughout the entire limits of the north- 
ern Rocky Mountains, and over much of the high moun- 
tain country west of the Rockies in Alaska and British 
Columbia, 
Thalarctos maritimus, Phipps. Polar Bear. — The oc- 
currence of the Polar bear along the Arctic coast in win- 
ter is materially inlluenced by the proximity of open 
water, it seldom visiting land, except in the neighborhood 
of the carcass of a whale. As I saw skins of females 
taken by the Eskimos while hunting seals along the open 
water at different times during the winter, it seems prob- 
able that they do not hibernate for any considerable 
length of time. 
Lutra canadensis, Schreber. Otter. — The otter becomes 
someM'hat rare in the extreme North, but is found in 
limited numbers almost to the limit of the growth of 
spruce forests. Very few of the skins taken furthest 
north by the Loucheux find their way to the furrier, as 
these people universally make them into winter caps. 
Gulo luscus, Linn. Wolverine. — The wolverine is found 
throughout the North, in timber and on the barrens, and 
I saw them far out on the ice of the deep bays along the 
coast. 
The Eskimos use every skin they kill for trimming their 
deerskin suits, and often buy them from the Indians of 
the interior for this purpose. The natives claim that the 
wolverine and wolf never meet without doing battle to 
the death, and that the wolf is not always, though gen- 
erally, victorious. 
Putorius (lutreola) vison, Schreber. American Mink. — 
The mink is taken in limited numbers along the banks of 
nearly all the wooded streams. 
Mustela americana, Turton. Marten. — The marten is 
found throughout all the tim.bered regions, and is the 
principal fur received at the most northerly posts of the 
Hudson Bay Company. It is reported as being very 
plentiful at times, but as very scarce at others, and the 
traders and natives say they die oH periodically. At 
Fort McPherson the trader told me they were as numer- 
ous now as when the post was first established, fifty 
years ago. 
Wolves. — I found the black wolf to be very much the 
most common variety throughout the Stickine and Liard 
River countries. The black and the gray were in about 
equal numbers along the Mackenzie, and the white or 
very light gray wolf the only one to be found along the 
coast. These animals are very little hunted for their 
skins, and were it . not for the fact that they so often 
kill and eat each other they would become dangerously 
numerous. 
Foxes. — Red, cross and silver foxes are found through- 
out the mainland of the North, but the skins of these ani- 
mals in the extreme North do not have, according to my 
observations, as perfect and beatttiiul coats as the animals 
living further south. The belt of country just inside 
of and following the coast range in British Columbia, 
Northwest Territory and Alaska, is evidently the most 
prolific in these animals, and yields the largest per cent, 
of choice skins of any part of the Northwest. 
The skins of the blue foxes taken along the Arctic 
coast are inferior in quality to those of the Alaskan 
Peninsula and the Pribilofs. 
Our knowledge of the foxes 6f the North and North- 
west is evidently very little in advance of our knowledge 
of the caribou. It is, to say the least, very imperfect. 
There are the silver-gray or black, the cross, the red, the 
blue and the white. I have heard it said by one who 
claimed to know, that the first three named were all of 
one common stock. Three years of very careful study 
and inqinr.v on my .part in the very home of these animals 
failed to bring to light any positive proof either way, but 
I satisfied myself that the anatomy of no two of these 
varieties is alike. 
The trading posts at Telegraph Creek, British Colum- 
bia, produce very much the largest number of skins of the 
silver, cross and red foxes of any one district in the 
North, and average j^early about lOO, 500 and 2,000 skins 
of each respectively. The Liard and Mackenzie River 
districts produce very few silver foxes. Large numbers 
of white foxes are taken all through the northern Hud- 
son Bay and Arctic coast districts, but very few blue foxes 
are taken there. The Alaskan Peninsula and the Pribi- 
lofs con.stitute the real home of the blue foxes, and the 
skins taken there are far superior to those taken along the 
Arctic coast. 
Undoubtedly the finest red fox skins produced in 
America come from the Nushagak River region. The 
Nushagak empties into Bristol Bay, an arm of Bering 
Sea. Silver foxes placed on Afognak Island for breeding 
purposes reproduced silves foxes. 
]\iuch additional matter gathered during my travels in 
the North bearing on this subject might be of interest, 
but would make this paper of too great length. 
Lynx canadensis, Kerr. Canada Lynx.— The Canada 
lynx is common in the Stickine and Mackenzie River 
countries, and especially abundant throughout the Liard 
River region. Traders and Indians are unanimous in 
their declaration that this animal is always numerous or 
scarce, according to the number of rabbits in the country; 
that during the seasons of scarcity of rabbits, through 
death from disease or otherwise, the lynx is proportion- 
ately scarce. 
mtie ^dg md ^nn. 
L'Homme Propose. 
"When icicles hang by the wall. 
And Dick the shepherd blows his mail, 
And Tom bears logs into the hall, 
And milk comes frozen home in pail." 
It was really too bad. It was most disappointing. It 
was, in fact, a downright shame. All winter long had B. 
been looking forward to a duck shoot : by day he thought 
of it and by night he dreamed of it, as I believe. I can 
even imagine him starting up from his sleep thinking that 
the creaking of his mattress was a flight of broadbills over 
his bed. As for myself, though not quite so keen, I was 
keen enough and longed for an opportunity to get away 
from the fardels and cares of business.. The opportunity 
at length arrived, so with merry heart B. and I packed our 
kits and were off for the shores of Shinnecock Bay. We 
reached there at noon on a Sunday, and there being no 
shooting to be done that day, of course we devoted our- 
selves to exploring and observing our surroundings. Our 
host (a worthy man, who has "followed the water" from 
yotJth) took us in charge. First he showed us his 
decoys — six geese and about twice as many ducks. These 
were kept in a pen in the' open, and whenever needed 
were driven into a crate and so carted to the bay. The 
geese were of the ordinary wild variety, and it is notable 
that the markings of the male and female are exactly the 
same. This flock has been in captivity for about two 
years, but has not yet bred. Our host informed us that 
they might do so this year. One or two of them had 
grown so tame that they approached when called, and fed 
out of the hand. The ducks were a heterogeneous lot and 
call for no particular description, if I except a couple of 
beautiful mallard drakes, whose plumage glistened like 
preciotis stones in the sunlight. From the decoy pen 
we directed our footsteps to the bay. Here the sneak 
boats, with their grassy borders, and the battery, with 
its paraphernalia, were lying ready for business, and upon 
these otxr host discoursed learnedly for nearly an hour. 
Had his text been one more appropriate to the day it is 
doubtful whether B. or the writer Avould have lent so 
willing an ear. But we were troubled by one thing. The 
weather was cold, with a high northerly wind. How long 
should we be able to stand it lying in one of those sneak 
boats out on the bay? The question troubled us, I say; 
but still we hoped that the weather would moderate 
before morning. When we returned to the house we 
had dinner — a good, substantial Long Island dinner — then 
smoked, our pipes and read — but not for long, for the 
heat of the stove (full of burning logs) and the stillness 
all around (so unwonted to our ears) soon superinduced 
a somnolent feeling, to which we yielded ourselves up 
Avithout a stfuggle. When we awoke it was evening, and 
looking ottt of the window I saw the sinking sun gleaming 
wildly across the bay, while the pines on a neck of land 
to the eastward were as black as ink. After a short walk 
to arouse ourselves thoroughly, we I'eturned and had tea. 
Then more pipes and a good old sporting gossip around 
the stove with our host. If there is anything 'Gene 
doesn't know about shore birds and the art of 
circumventing them, it isn't much, I opine. But he is 
never dogmatic or disagreeably assertive, but pours his 
information or yarns out of him as smoothly as oil from a 
bottle. Talking of bottles — but that is a story all by itself 
and must be reserved for the end. Well, the evening 
slipped away, and when 9 o'clock struck we decided to 
adjourn the meeting, as an early start had tO' be made 
in the morning. Getting to bed we lay awake for awhile 
listening to the wind, for it had risen to a gale; its roar 
as it passed the house was only comparable to that of 
heavy traffic in a street. Our last aspiration ere we 
dropped to sleep was that it might die out before morning. 
Sound was our sleep, as may be imagined, and when 
I heard 'Gene enter the room to call us, it seemed to me 
as if I hadn't been to bed for more than a few hours. 
"Five o'clock," said 'Gene, drawing the blind. 
"Oh, nonsense," .said I; "it can't be more than i or 2." 
"It's s all right," answered 'Gene, adding despondently, 
"and much colder." 
Casting my eye toward the window I saw the dawn 
beginning to break over Pine Neck — a wan, uncertain 
light, which gradually deepened into an orange glow. To 
all appearances it might have been a summer dawn, but 
there was no mistake about what 'Gene said regarding 
the temperature, as I observed my breath arising in tht 
air very much like escaping steam. 
"No shooting unless the weather moderates," was the 
depressing decision we had to listen to. However, we got 
up, and thottgh our attentive host had brought logs into 
the roorn and set the stove a-going, we had to break 
the ice in our pitchers to wash, and before we were 
dressed our noses had a most unbeautiful blue tinge and 
our fingers were so numb we could hardly button our 
collars. After breakfast we lit our pipes and went out. 
The wind almost took us off our feet, and seemed to be 
blowing icicles. The decoys were all lying down in their 
pen to keep their feet warm. Looking bay ward ice was 
observed along the shores and the waters were choppy and 
sullen. 'Gene took out his spy glass and scanned the 
scene carefully, but reported that he could not see the sign 
of a duck. Notwithstanding all this, B. was for venturing 
out. The penalty of being frozen stiff he regarded as a 
mere nothing, provided only he could get one shot. It 
required the serious representations of our host and his 
wife (a very intelligent woman) to dissuade him. They 
told him of people who had contracted lifelong dis- 
abilities from rash exposure on the bay. 
"Well, then," he said, turning to me, "if there's to be no 
.shooting we'd better go home." 
"Let us wait till to-morrow," I answered; "w^e may 
get a chance to-morrow. Anyhow, the outing will do us 
good." So we waited. 
The morrow arrived and punctually at 5 the faithful 
'Gene came to call us, bearing an armful of logs, the sight 
of which caused me to groan with disapopintment. "Still 
cold?" I queried. Wor.se than that; the bay was frozen 
over ! When B., who occupied a connecting room, heard 
this he jumped oitt of bed and began pacing the floor as 
I have seen the king of beasts pace within a cage. I felt 
that it was dangerous to go near him, or even as much as 
speak to him. After a while his excess of rageful dis- 
appointment subsided and he fell into a melancholy mood, 
merely sighing and muttering, "Well, well !" 
L'hoinme propose, et Dieu dispose. True it is, indeed— 
of duck shooting as of other more important things. But 
we must never lose heart, but keep on proposing, guided 
by our experience, however. And this is what B. and I 
intend doing, and when we go a-duck shooting again it 
certainly won't be in the month of March. 
I would end here but that I mentioned something 
about a bottle, with the promise of a story. The latter is 
soon told. It was neither unnatural nor improvident, I 
think, that B. and I should have provided ourselves with^ 
bottle of good old barley bree before starting on our ex- 
pedition. On reaching the home of 'Gene (whom we had 
not known before), B. must carry the bottle downstairs 
and set it on the parlor table. I had cautioned him 
against this proceeding, fearing the house (like so many 
of those on Long Island) might prove a temperance one, 
and knowing, if so, that so open an exhibition of the 
"arch enemy" might cause a shock. My fear proved true. 
However, neither 'Gene nor his wife seemed to mind, but 
there was a boy in the house, and thereby hangs my tale. 
As soon as the boy caught sight of that bottle he stood 
fascinated, gazing at it as a bird is supposed to gaze at a 
.snake. And I have no doubt he expected every mdmeM 
to see blue flames and little devils issuing therefroth. 
Then when B. and I proceeded to help ourselves his face 
took an expression of horror and he seemed ready tJa 
cry out. Observing this I told B. we must endeavor there- 
after to help ourselves on the sly. But the effort was 
vain. Whenever we touched that bottle the boy was 
there. Once I made a careful survey of the premises, and 
seeing no boy, cried to B. : "Come along now; now's 
our time !" And both of us sneaked toward the parlor 
table. But lo ! no sooner were our glasses ready than the 
bQy appeared, as if out of the ground. It was like con- 
science rising up to reprove. We turned away guiltily as 
we drained our glasses. It must be recorded, however, that 
the boy's original expresion of horror gradually wore 
away, and if I were asked whether, when he grows tip, he 
is likely to be a teetotal man, I should say that after his 
observing B. take a drink the chances are decidedly against 
it. Frank Moon an. 
^'Walloping the Citizens/' 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
When in the course of human events it becomes neces- 
sary for the people of one section to wallop the citizens of 
another, a decent respect for the opinions of the whole 
community requires . But "what's the use?" The 
more we write against the heartless slaughter of game 
and ornamental birds, the more persistently the selfish 
slaughterers carry on their work. But after all that may 
be said, the real head and front of the offending lies 
with those who, of all others, ought to be supplied with 
wisdom. 
Webster said to his opponents : "Old Masachusetts ! 
There she stands. Look at her !" What would he say of 
her now, with a body of small-souled, low-bred lobbyists 
in the pay of a few game dealers of the same stamp, de- 
terminedly opposing the passage of one of the most hu- 
mane and necessary measures ever submitted to a legis- 
lative body? If these lobbyists are listened to by men who 
ought to be above suspicion, and their names are spread 
broadcast through the land, will suspicion be put to sleep? 
No ; the country will say, "This is the work of degenerate 
Massachusetts. There she stands. Look at her !" 
There's another State in our great and glorious Union 
that is not bringing down the admiration of the world in 
showers on its head in relation to game preservation ; 
but what can reasonablj'^ be expected of a State that can 
descend so low in political degradation as to elect an Alt- 
geld for its Governor! It would not surprise me in the 
least if Italian Joe should be nominated in that State for 
Governor by the next convention, for the bloody "prof es • 
sional" can do more in the line of game extermination 
than any other lazy mortal, and thereby commands a lot. 
of public admiration. To slaughter hundreds of plover 
in a day as they are on their passage from the South to 
their nesting grounds in early spring, does not raise a 
ripple on the consicence of Italian Joe, and there are 
scores of thoughtless sportsmen who will pat him on the 
back as a "trump." Many years ago, on a trip from St. 
Louis to Chicago, the prairie seemed alive with plover the 
entire distance. When I got to Chicago I went out and 
killed a few, but found them too lean for any decent table. 
